In a really exciting race on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, there were a whopping 72 times when the lead changed hands. No one driver seemed to be in control for long. Ford drivers Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski looked like they might be the ones to fight it out for the win.
As they came out of Turn 4 and headed into the tri-oval on the last lap, McDowell went high to block Keselowski, but Keselowski quickly moved low to try and get ahead.
McDowell then moved low to block again, but this time Keselowski was already in position. Unfortunately, their cars collided, sending McDowell into the wall.
After McDowell’s crash, Tyler Reddick managed to pass Keselowski and win the race for Toyota, leaving Ford and its new ‘Dark Horse’ Mustang still without a win this season.
McDowell, who drove the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, said, “We did a good job getting out front and controlling the race and putting ourselves in position. Brad is so good at this place, and he dragged back, and I dragged back as quick as I could and was able to block that first run that he made.
“Then, when I came down for the second one he was just to my bumper. I mean barely, barely got me so it’s unfortunate. I hate it for him and I hate it for everybody that was behind that. It’s the last lap at Talladega. We’re all going for it.
“We had a shot at doing it there. Unfortunately, I just made a bad move there to put us in that spot.”
McDowell and his Front Row teammate, Todd Gilliland, have been fast and in the running for wins this season, but they haven’t managed to win yet.
When asked if he felt more determined or frustrated after such a competitive race, McDowell said he felt a bit of both.
“I’m frustrated right now. I’m motivated by our ability to run up there and manage the lanes and do all the things that we did,” he said. “Our car drove really well and took a push well and had a lot of speed, so those are good things, but it’s wadded up in a pile of rubble right now.
“It’s just unfortunate. It’s been a tough stretch here, but we’ve had speed and we’ve run up front and if we keep doing that, we’ll win a race.”
